What is Immigration?

Immigration is the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country. In 2016 there were 10.7 million undocumented immigrants which is 3.3% of the total population and 43.7 million immigrants in the United States. Immigrants live with 40.6 million American born children who are U.S. citizens. Immigrants tend to be less educated than the average American. 30% of immigrants 25 and older lack a high school diploma. In 2007 it was at a peak of 12.2 million. There are 7.8 million in the workforce and almost half pay Social Security payroll taxes. Between 700,000 to 850,000 new immigrants arrive without documentation each year. In 2013 the department of homeland security recorded 434,015 immigrants in which 45% of them had a criminal record. So many immigrants choose to enter the U.S. without documentation because it is so hard to immigrate with authorization. 4 million people are on the immigration waiting lists. In 2014, America welcomed 1.3 million new immigrants. India sent 147,500. China sent 131,800 people, and Mexico sent 130,000 individuals.  

Works Cited:

 Amadeo, Kimberly. “Immigration Pros and Cons.” The Balance Small Business, The Balance, www.thebalance.com/how-immigration-impacts-the-economy-4125413.